Dispersal device



Jan. 14, 1969 R. w. HANSON 3,421,662

' DISPERSAL DEVICE Filed March 7, 1967 E v 36 /4 4/ I /8 46;} (r 2 30\ x/ oig k 1 4 M w/ M L A35 ia i vla FIE 5 JNVENTOR. Ra M Hausa United States Patent 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A relatively small spring loaded plunger actuated device for ejection of a dispersal fluid. The device consists of a casing which houses the plunger, the spring, the release mechanism for the plunger, and a collapsible capsule for the dispersal fluid. The front wall of the capsule is weakened at its center and this weakened area is aligned with a discharge opening in the front wall of the casing. Actuation of the release mechanism allows the spring to drive the plunger forward against the rear wall of the capsule. The capsule ruptures at the weakened central area in its front wall and the fluid in the capsule is forced through the discharge opening inthe front wall of the casing.

Background and summary of the invention Related devices are disclosed in US. Letters Patent 1,877,710, 2,432,791, 3,084,466 and 3,174,245. The devices of the art developed employ cartridges for propulsion and have chambers to contain in bulk quantities of dispersal fluid. The device herein is distinguishable from the indicated art in the relatively simplicity of its construction, the absence of the use of a cartridge and by the use of a sealed preloaded capsule containing the dispersal fluid. The device herein is intended to be used as a relatively safe and easy to handle defensive mechanism to ward off attackers or trespassers.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a simply constructed spring actuated dispersal device of a size to be readily carried within the pocket or a purse.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispersal device adapted to use a preloaded sealed capsule of dispersal fluid.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a relatively small dispersal device comprising a preloaded capsule of dispersal material, a spring load plunger, means maintaining said device in operating position, and actuating means requiring very minimal effort to operate the device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal vertical section;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical cross section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 as indicated;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device in another position;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical cross section taken on line 33 of FIG. 3 as indicated; and

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section showing a detail.

Description of a preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, the device herein is indicated generally by the numeral and comprises a housing or barrel 12 which is substantially cylindrical in form. The forward end portion 14 of said barrel is externally threaded to have removably secured thereon an end cap 15 having a central aperture 16 of relatively small size extending therethrough.

Patented Jan. 14, 1969 The rearward end portion of said barrel has a crimped shoulder 18 having an aperture 19 centrally therethrough. Disposed within said barrel and seated against said shoulder 18 is a washer 21.

Disposed within the forward end portion of said barrel is a collapsible capsule 25 which in the embodiment here shown is indicated as being formed of a suitable plastic or metal material of a bellows-like construction to be readily collapsed for the ejection of the dispersal fluid 28 therein under pressure. The front wall 26 of said capsule is shown having a weakened central area 26a which will -be in alignment with the aperture 16. The dispersal fluid 28 with which the capsule will be preloaded may very suitably comprise a very noticeable dye and an effective stench material such as butyric acid.

Disposed within said barrel adjacent said capsule is a cylindrical hammer or plunger 30 having a rearward end portion 30a and a forward end portion 30b. An axial bore 31 forming a chamber extends into said hammer through the rearward end portion thereof to a point short of the forward end portion 30b whereby the forward end portion 3012 forms a forward end wall. Said bore in effect forms a chamber. A slot 33 is formed in the upper portion of said plunger extending from a rear wall portion 300 to the forward wall portion 30d. Said slot opens into said chamber 31. A ball 35 is provided having a diameter somewhat less in length than the width of said slot and fully receivable into said chamber 31. An aperture 36 is formed in the upper wall of said barrel 12 to be aligned with said slot 33 and having a width of a lesser extent than that of the diameter of said ball whereby less than one-half of said ball will be able to extend into said aperture 36.

An operating member 39 is provided and is shown here comprising a shaft 40 having a terminal handle 41 thereon shown here in the form of a button and at the inner end of said shaft is a head portion 42 of a diameter to be readily slidable into said bore or chamber 31. Said head portion will support said ball 35 as shown in FIG. 1, and may be advanced into or withdrawn from said chamber 31 to permit said ball to drop completely below said aperture 36.

A locking member 45 is provided in connection with said head portion which in the present embodiment is shown in the form of a pin disposed through opposed apertures 43 in the walls of the barrel 12 and through a bore 44 extending through said head portion 42 aligned with said apertures 43. Said pin is shown having an eyelet end portion 45a.

Disposed between the end portion 30a of said plunger and said washer 21 is a coil spring 48.

Operation The device as shown in FIG. 1 is in a cocked position ready for operation and is held in check by the locking member or safety pin 45. The capsule 25 is loaded with a suitable dispersal material. The spring is compressed between the plunger 30 and the washer 21. Said plunger is positioned to compress said spring and is held in such position by the ball 35 serving as a check member and being held partially disposed into said aperture 36 and having the wall portion 30c bear thereagainst. The head portion 42 holds the ball in operating position as shown in FIG. 1.

Said operating member 39 is readily manipulated. When the device is prepared for ready use, the pin 45 will be pulled out. The head 42 very nicely fits into said bore 31 with a portion thereof remaining within the rearward end wall portion 30a as illustrated. The head portion 42 by operation of the handle 40 is very readily advanced into the chamber 31 or retracted therefrom to release the ball 35 which will be forced downwardly into said chamber 3 31 by the pressure of the end wall 36, which action is quite obvious. With said ball fully received within the bore or chamber 31, the plunger 30 is thrust forwardly by the spring 48.

The weakened portion 26a of the front wall of said capsule 25 will rupture under the pressure exerted and the dispersal material 28 will be ejected with considerable force out of the aperture 16.

To reload and cock the device, the end cap will be removed and the depleted capsule 25 discarded. The plunger will be moved inwardly to compress the spring 48. With the aperture 36 facing downwardly, the ball is readily positioned. The operating member 39 will be positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the pin 45 will be inserted, a new filled capsule will replace the depleted capsule and the end cap 15 will be threaded onto the end of the barrel.

The device employs no cartridge and representsv no dangerous risk in being carried about ones person or in a purse.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a safe and simply constructed dispersal device which provides an effective means for affording a substantial measure of protection for the body of a person and his property,

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for ejecting dispersal material having in combination:

a barrel having a wall at either end thereof and a chamber therein,

a collapsible capsule disposed in one end of said chamher,

the forward end wall of said barrel having an aperture therein and being engaged by the adjacent wall of said capsule,

a plunger slidably disposed within said chamber, said plunger having a chamber therein and a slot in a side wall thereof open to said chamber in said plunger,

a ball receivable through said slot into said chamber in said plunger,

an aperture in the wall of said barrel positioned to have said slot in alignment therewith, said aperture being of a size to permit less than one-half of said ball to be disposed thereinto,

a coil spring disposed between said plunger and the rearward end wall of said barrel, and

externally operable means within said chamber supporting said ball partially within said slot and partially within said aperture to hold said plunger in operative position against said coil spring in compressed condition.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said operable means comprises,

a head portion disposable into said chamber to underlie and support said ball, and

a shaft extending from said head portion outwardly of said barrel to move said head portion away from a supporting position with respect to said ball.

3-. The structure set forth in claim 2, including:

a pair of opposed apertures in the side walls of said barrel in vertical alignment with said first mentioned aperture,

a transverse bore through said head adapted to be aligned with said opposed apertures, and

a pin disposable through said opposed apertures and 1 said bore in said head therebetween.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

locking means securing said operable means in operative position.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said forward end wall comprises a cap member, and

means removably secure said cap member to said barrel.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said capsule comprises a forward wall having a readily ruptured area in alignment with said aperture in said forward end wall of said barrel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,235,550 8/1917 Carmody 222- X 1,880,354 10/1932 Mueller 222-79 2,432,791 12/1947 Osses 222389 2,653,667 9/1953 Genin et al. 22279 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

